I made these bars in 3 minutes flat. They are going to become a new staple. Fast, easy, simple, portable, and kid-approved. And mommy-approved. And they contain chocolate and peanut butter. I mean, what’s not to love?
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Microwave Chocolate Peanut Butter & Oat Snack Bars
2 Tbsp Chocolate Chips
2 to 3 Tbsp Peanut Butter (or other nut butter)
2 Tbsp Milk (or nut milk) (I used vanilla coffee creamer!)
1/2 C Oats
Optional:
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
1 Tbsp Sweetener (Brown/White Sugar, Agave, Maple Syrup or Stevia to Taste)
1 Tbsp Other Dry Ingredients (coconut flakes, chia seeds, sunflower seeds, nuts, more chocolate chips, raisins, scoop of protein powder, etc.)
Directions:
Melt the first three ingredients together in the microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring and checking
Then add the Oats and any optional ingredients, stir to combine. (You want this mixture to be fairly dry. If it’s not dry enough, add more oats one tablespoon at a time)
Press mixture into bars or balls. Using a piece of plastic wrap on the inside of a square plastic container will save on dishes and cleanup.
Put in refrigerator or freezer for 10 minutes, or until bars have set up. Slice or break apart.
Yields 3 Larabar-sized bars that are also vegan and gluten-free.
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Did you notice that snazzy Print This widget feature? Thanks Christine for the tip off on that one.
Here’s how things went down. Visually speaking.
Add the Chips + PB + Milk and then Nuke
Then add the Oats and other Optionals
Press it into a plastic container or bowl, then freeze or refrigerate til set up. Using plastic wrap saves on mess because you can just lift the whole thing out. Messy cook anyone?
Yields 3 Bars. I don’t always need a dozen, or more, bars. Sometimes just a few is all I want or need.
The inside is perfectly chocolately and peanut buttery. The peanut butter and oats keep them chewy, and the chocolate keeps them…Mmmm!
Definitely Kiddie Approved.
Wrap any extras in plastic and take for an on-the-go snack. That is, if you have any ‘leftovers’ from the yield of 3 bars.
Related Foods/Snacks that are No-Bake/Micro/Freezer type recipes:
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Coconut Oil Protein Bars (Vegan, GF, No-Bake)
Biggie Microwave Banana Oat Cakes
Microwave Blueberry Banana Oat Cakes
I also have an Oats Recipes Post that highlights many of my oat-containing recipes.
From my last post about the Challenge: In 10 Years, it was amazing reading where you all think you’re going to be in 10 years! Wow. Thank you for gracing me with your stories, dreams, goals, aspirations, and honesty. I really loved reading those comments and I’m glad you enjoyed my thoughts about where I’ll be in 10 years and what I’ll be doing.
And yes, it’s so hard to predict life and the changes, twists and turns it will take. Most of you told me you are amazed the way your life has unfolded and the life path you’re walking, living, and breathing right now.
Questions:
1. Best thing you’ve ate or done over the weekend?
I picked up some things for Skylar’s birthday party and we spent lots of time together as a family. The weather has been great, high 60s/low 70s and sunny and we went for a few great long power walks.
2. Do you like to make your own snack bars?
Yes, see the above links. Clearly, I’m a fan.
3. What’s in your “dream” snack bar?
Mine would have to have oats, chocolate, peanut butter and from there…you can’t go wrong!
Have a great week, everyone!
Absolutely bookmarking this!! You’re a genius…and a great mommy :D
awww, thanks girlie…you are too kind! thanks for saying hi :)
Hey Averie!
Those bars look and read delicious! I’m going to make them. Thanks for sharing!
The best thing I ate this weekend, well, I’m hoping it’s going to be my Caribbean-inspired 3-bean-butternut-squash-sweet-potato-stew that I invented on the spot and has been in the slow cooker all afternoon! It’s GF and almost vegan (had some chicken stock to use up, but could easily use veg stock or water).
I’ve NEVER made my own snack bars! I’ve made cookies, muffins, roasted chickpeas, granola, but never bars!
My dream bar: it MUST have chocolate and nuts (yours is really looking like a hit to me!)
xo
Sabina
Um, I LOVE YOU. I hope this doesn’t make things awkward between us but holey moley this is my new fave recipe. They taste like oatmeal cookies! I used butterscotch chips because that’s all I have. Looooovvvveeee.
you already made them?!? holy crap you are lighting fast and i love you even more :)
I am so obsessed with making snack bars lately! I made some using oats and some almond pulp (a riff on your bars) the other day, but they’re almost gone, so I gotta get crackin’. Speaking of snacking, I just made a version of your seed crackers (savory), using some tamari and nooch and all chia (no flax). I don’t want to eat them all in one swoop, but they’re good! Thanks for all the inspiration!
Those bars look SO good!!
These look amazing, and all the amazing pics you took of them makes me want them NOW! Pics like that make me very very hungry !
Awwwwwww Skylars birthday soon! How fun! I bet she is so excited!!!
Love ya girl! xoxo Have a great Sunday night!
These remind me of “no bake” cookies that are huge here in western PA. These are a lot healthier though and even look prettier. :)
yes i am the no bake queen.
you are the baking queen.
feel free to come out there and bake for me anytime :)
I have never made my own snack bars, but when I do I will be using one of your recipes!!!
i feel like i never make my own snack bars just because i’m not really a snack bar type person! i never feel like i’m full after i eat them and by the time they’re gone i still want more haha but these are definitely a great idea for when i’m on the run with school and everything now :) great recipe as always girl!
mmmm those bars look great! This weekend was a real nice weekend here in Austin so yesterday I played a full day of sand vb (10am-5pm :-) ) and today I had a great run on a gorgeous trail!! My dream snack bar HAS to have Peanut Butter or any kind of Nut butter :-) the rest doesn’t matter to me!
OK…I’ve been following you for a couple weeks now, and I’m finally commenting. I’ve tried a few of your snacky recipes, and they’re great! This one looks awesome, and I’m definitely going to be trying it. I don’t usually have milks in the house because I don’t use them very often, so I’ll have to go get some. And chocolate chips. I love that your recipes are generally small…because I go overboard if I have too much around! Thanks!!!
you could skip the milk and add any kind of butter/fake butter you have, about 2 Tbsp worth. Even water, really, would be fine.
Yum!! I’m all for fast, easy treats!
Your pictures seem to be especially high quality today!
thank you for noticing. I tried extra hard today :)
Those look wonderful!
I actually spent all morning perusing your recipes page with my boyfriend…I am seriously considering pulling a Julia and Julia and working my way through each and every one of your recipes day by day!
But for now, I’m going to make your oreo balls and coconut mint balls for our superbowl party this upcoming weekend! I don’t care about football at all so the food is what I put all of my energies into.
if you worked your way thru my recipes day by day…even if you made 10, I would be beyond flattered :)
going to make your oreo balls and coconut mint balls for our superbowl party = please tell me how they go over with everyone!
Ahhh yummy yummy! Microwaveable = easy peasy, aka these will be a staple in my college diet next year. I think I am going to need to learn to love the microwave!